Mar 25, 2013

The Boy in the Striped Pajamas (Pyjamas) (2008)

I classify this under "Great Movies You'll Only See Once". I didn't know much going in beyond it being rated really high by almost everyone. Deservedly so. The performance by the little boy was Oscar worthy. His eyes alone could out-act half of Hollywood's elite. The film says a lot about war without being preachy and artificial.

Rating: B+

The Rules of Attraction (2002)

Caught this on IFC. Not much going for it except a few choice scenes. My favorite was the fast paced travelogue of that dude's European vacation. I'd see an entire film of people sharing their summer vacation stories with each other in this fast forward manner.

Rating: D

Waiting… (2005)

An off-color comedy that is much funnier if you've had the opportunity to work in the food service industry, which most of us have. If you watch this film and are still dumb enough to give your server a hard time, then you deserve to eat everything that gets wiped onto your food in the back.

Rating: C+

Clash of the Titans (2010)

I have faint memories of seeing the original as a kid. They showed a trailer for it at the beginning of the Blu-Ray. Wow does it look terrible. This new version may look like a CGI wet dream gone awry, but it definitely looks a heck of a lot better than its stop motion for-bearer.

I thought mythology was a bunch of boring nonsense when I was in school, and my opinion hasn't changed as an adult. It's hard to get behind such a ridiculous story. If there's one thing Clash of the Titans does well, it's reminding people what a fantastic feat Peter Jackson did with the Lord of the Rings trilogy, and how easily it could have been a pile of bloated effects and shallow characters. Case in point: This movie.

Rating: D-

The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift (2006)

Yeah, I saw it. Get off my back. I really liked the first one, and the second was ok. I had no choice but to see the third. Plus, there's that kid from Sling Blade who's a pretty good actor. The movie wasn't bad. Plot was a bit silly, but there was some good scenes and of course some fancy driving.

Rating: C

Where The Wild Things Are (2009)

My expectations were very high considering the collaborators on this project. Turns out the Wild Things costumes were the best thing about the film. It's pretty amazing what Spike was able to do with them. The story, however, left me bored and disinterested.

The interactions between characters was childlike—which didn't appeal to me as an adult. Ironically, this movie would bore actual children to tears; when it wasn't scaring the crap out of them. Essentially, this means the movie has no audience.

Rating: D-

The Kite Runner (2007)

A well-crafted film that takes time developing its characters and back story. I didn't read the book, but was aware of how popular it was. I was completely engaged and appreciated the detail given to sets and wardrobe. Highly recommended.

Rating: B

North Face (Nordwand) (2008)

An authentic, gritty film about German climbers attempting a first accent on a nearly unscalable mountain face. Why people do this I'll never understand. Very tense and believable. Almost painful to watch at times. Well made.

Rating: B-

Dreamer: Inspired by a True Story (2005)

An enjoyable film with a terrific cast. Another one to add to the short list of movies that can be enjoyed by the entire family.

Rating: C+

Alice in Wonderland (2010)

Yet another reminder that style is nothing without substance. The movie looks amazing. The characters are unique and colorful, yet I don't care about any of them. There's absolutely no depth to be found. A bunch of talking animals and ridiculous looking people interact on screen, but none of them evoke the slightest emotional reaction from the viewer.

The biggest blunder of all is that the film has no audience. With the PG rating, you'd think this was created for kids, however, this would simultaneously bore and scare kids to tears. Adults? Nope. We were unstimulated and confused. Teens? There's no romance or believable action. Burton took the same unmarketable path as Jonze did with Where The Wild Things Are. Self gratification over audience appeal.

Rating: F+

X-Men: The Last Stand (2006)

Yep, Brett Ratner is no Brian Singer. This didn't come even close to living up to the first two films in the series.

Rating: D+

Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire (2009)

Two outstanding performances by the female leads. As good as the hype led me to believe it would be. Tough to watch, but uplifting too. Enjoyed.

Rating: B-

Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit (2005)

This is a fun one for the entire family. It will entertain the kids as well as parents. Plenty of adult humor that will go right over the little ones heads. Good stuff.

Rating: B-

Gun (2010)

It's tough for me to watch Val in such a terrible film. He's been in some great movies and is one of my favorite actors. It's not fair that he's being forced to slum it with 50 Cent in backwash like this. He's in dyer need of a Mickey Rourke style career realignment.

Gun plays like the low budget B-movie it is. Nothing is redeemable. The director's resume is comprised of Soul Plane for crying out loud. You're better off watching a rerun of Burn Notice.

Rating: F

Poseidon (2006)

An ok disaster movie, albeit a little heavy on the CGI side.

Rating: C

The Help (2011)

Watching movies like The Help makes me want to run out and watch Django Unchained again. I love seeing ignorant douchebags get their comeuppance, especially if it takes the form of buckshot to the face.

In The Help, retribution for white injustice comes in a milder form, through a tell-all book from the perspective of the housekeepers. It’s a heartwarming story that gets a bit dramatic at the end, but that can’t be helped when it’s a Hollywood picture.

Rating: C+

Burma VJ: Reporting from a Closed Country (Reporter I Et Lukket Land) (2008)

A pieced together documentary of video footage taken during the September 2007 protests against the military regime in Burma. VJ stands for video journalist. Those who recorded what was happening on film, at great personal risk. Quite compelling despite a lot of shaky camerawork. Completely understandable considering they were being hunted by the secret police. If you are like me, and prefer to get your news from the source, rather than in over-produced blurbs from cable networks, this is an excellent piece of world history to see.

Rating: C+

The Skeleton Key (2005)

I made the mistake of watching this on my laptop while flying, allowing everyone around me to see me scream like a girl whenever something jumped out of the screen. Screw em. A decent thriller as far as run-of-the-mill thrillers go. I was entertained on my flight to Kauai.

Rating: C

Mar 24, 2013

The Hobbit (2012)

Really pretty to look at and full of incredible special effects, but light on story development and suspense. Doesn’t measure up to the very high bar the three other LOTR movies set.

Rating: C


Mar 21, 2013

Harry Brown (2009)

I can't be the first, or the last, to say "The British Gran Torino". Meant as a total compliment, of course. The similarities are many, with the most striking being an outstanding performance by a seasoned actor in the lead role. It's what elevates both of these revenge flicks to a much higher level.

I thoroughly enjoyed Harry Brown. It plays out rather plausibly. By the time the baddies get what's coming to them, the viewer is practically wet with anticipation for their demise. Hooray for old guys with guns!

Rating: B

The Crazies (2010)

Crazies follows a predictable Romero formula, using a biological weapon as the catalyst for the "zombies". I thought it was well paced, with competent acting, and some decent scares.

Rating: C+

Panic (2000)

This was a Sundance film I couldn't get into see, so I was happy to catch it on DVD. I liked it, although I didn't think it was great.

Rating: C

Witness: Katrina (2011)

Exactly what I hoped it would be. A chronological telling of the events of Katrina through the eyes of those who experienced it first hand. The footage is amazing. It's like watching a disaster movie in real time, but with Mother Nature providing the special effects.

I was having a tumultuous debate in my head the entire time about my personal feelings on the whole Katrina thing. On one hand, I felt a lot of people were getting what they deserved for stupidly ignoring the evacuation notice and putting themselves and others in harms way. On the other, I felt terrible for the sick, elderly, and others who were unable to escape in time.

But then there's the logical side of me that thinks "What do you expect when you live below sea level in a major hurricane zone?!?!" Like I said, I have mixed feelings. I'm sure I'll be even less sympathetic when it happens the next time and our country goes broke rebuilding homes in the same stupid spot. My personal opinions aside, the documentary is riveting. Loved it.

Rating: B

Black and White (1999)

Black and White was a look into the lives of hip hop youth, how white kids mimic black culture, and how black kids interact with them. It's part rap video, part documentary, part improvisation, and part Boyz in the Hood. It was interesting and different, and I liked it.

Rating: C+

Walkabout (1971)

It's a rarity for me to check out a film made before I was born, but in this case, it was the subject matter that drew me in. Walkabout, made in 1971, tells the story of two siblings stranded in the outback who befriend an aboriginal boy. He helps them survive and they form a small family.

There are some artistic licenses that I don't agree with, plus a vague and unfulfilling ending, but overall, the film stands the test of time. Three stellar performances by the young actors.

Rating: C+

Machete (2010)

I was excited about this picture ever since I heard they were making a feature length film based on the fake movie trailer that aired during Grindhouse. The posters alone will wet your appetite. Pretty great cast, including the beyond beautiful Jessica Alba. Michelle Rodriguez doesn't look too shabby either. It's nice seeing Danny Trejo snag a leading role for a change.

Plenty of gratuitous violence and mayhem. You just have to laugh when 3 heads hit the floor after a single machete swipe. I felt the film lost focus towards the end. Also, there were too many unnecessary bit players taking up screen time. Lindsey Lohan's character made little sense. I shouldn't be surprised that it didn't live up to my expectations.

Rating: C



State And Main (2000)

Starring Philip Seymour Hoffman and William H. Macy? Yes please. The movie as a whole was ok, with a periodic shining moments throughout. A simple movie about a film crew taking over a small Vermont town.

Rating: C+

A Prophet (Un Prophète) (2009)


An interesting take on the prison movie from a French perspective. I liked the realistic approach, which means the film was quite brutal at times. They did a good job of spanning a 6 year prison sentence. Not the most rewarding piece of cinema, but worth a rental.

Rating: C

Brokedown Palace (1999)


I saw this after my trip to Thailand, or I may have been a bit more on edge. There are posters in the hostels trying to encourage travelers to visit foreigners who have landed themselves in prison. Anyway, the movie was well done. Claire is a fantastic actress and elevates the film.  

Rating: C+

Scott Pilgrim vs. the World (2010)

Like nothing you've seen before. It's hip, funny, quirky, and a bit juvenile. Video games infiltrate every part of the production. I really liked the characters and their quick witted interactions.

A miss for me was the focus of the entire film—Scott fighting the 7 evil ex's. If I want to see cartoonish fights, I can watch schlock like Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers. Still, it was refreshing to see something different brought to screen.

Rating: C+

The Yards (2000)

A lot of big names in this one, although it didn't make a big splash at the box office. Acting was good, story held my attention, and suspense was satisfactory.

Rating: C

The Ghost Writer (2010)


The controversy surrounding Roman Polanski would make for a far more intriguing film than this. I'm sure one day it will. Ghost Writer is well shot, but what's the point? The story is mostly blah and the ending leaves a lot to be desired. Expected more from the exiled auteur.

Rating: C-